Diagnosis

Treatment

Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options may include the one or more of the following:

Supportive Care

You will need time to heal. RICE and immediate medical care are often the pain part of treatment:

Rest—Activities will need to be restricted.

Ice—Ice therapy may help relieve swelling.

Compression—Used for a limited time, compression bandages can provide gentle pressure to help move fluids out of the area.

Elevation—Keeping the area elevated can help fluids drain out or prevent fluids from building up.

Crutches or a walker may be advised to protect the healing tendon.

Prescription or over-the-counter medication may be advised to reduce pain.

Surgery

Surgery is the most common treatment for this condition. An incision is made in the lower leg and the tendon is sewn back together. A
cast, splint, walking boot, or brace is worn for 6-8 weeks. One of the benefits of surgery is that it lowers the risk of re-rupturing the tendon. Surgery may also be a better option if you are physically active.

The other option is to allow your tendon to heal without surgery. In this case, you also need to wear a cast, splint, walking boot, or brace for 6-8 weeks. You also may have different exercises to do. If you are less active or have a chronic illness that prevents surgery, this option may be better for you.

Physical Therapy

A physical therapist will assess the tendon. An exercise program will be created to help recovery and to stregthen the muscles.

Prevention

To help reduce your chance of getting Achilles tendon rupture, take the following steps:

Do warm-up exercises before an activity and cool down exercises after an activity.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.